第3章

Sect。XX。 THOUGHtheQuicknessofthineEarwereabletoreachthenoiseoftheMoon，whichsomethinkitmakethinit’srapidrevolution；thoughthenumberofthyEarsshouldequalArgushisEyes；yetstopthemallwiththewiseman’swax，andbedeafuntothesuggestionsofTalebearers，Calumniators，PickthankorMalevolentDelators，whowhilequietMensleep，sowing；heraresofdiscordanddivision，distractthetranquillityofCharityandallfriendlySociety。ThesearetheTonguesthatsettheworldonfire，cankersofreputation，and，likethatofJonashisGourd，witheragoodnameinanight。EvilSpiritsmaysitstillwhiletheseSpiritswalkabout，andperformthebusinessofHell。Tospeakmorestrictly，ourcorruptedheartsaretheFactoriesoftheDevil，whichmaybeatworkwithouthispresence。ForwhenthatcircumventingSpirithathdrawnMalice，Envy，andallunrighteousnessuntowellrootedhabitsinhisdisciples，iniquitythengoesonuponitsownlegs，andifthegateofHellwereskutupforatime，VicewouldstillbefertileandproducethefruitsofHell。ThuswhenGodforsakesus，Satanalsoleavesus。Forsuchoffendershelooksuponassureandsealedup，andhistemptationsthenneedlessuntothem。 Sect。XXI。 ANNIHILATEnottheMerciesofGodbytheOblivionofIngratitude。ForOblivionisakindofAnnihilation，andforthingstobeasthoughtheyhadnotbeenislikeuntoneverbeing。 MakenotthyHeadaGrave，butaRepositoryofGod’smercies。ThoughthouhadsttheMemoryofSeneca，orSimonides，&；Conscience，thepunctualMemoristwithinus，yettrustnottothyRemembranceinthingswhichneedPhylacteries。Registernotonlystrangebutmercifuloccurrences：LetEphemeridesnotOlympiadsgivetheeaccountofhismercies。LetthyDiariesstandthickwithdutifulMementos&；Asterisksofacknowledgment。Andtobecompleatandforgetnothing，datenothismercyfromthynativity，LookbeyondtheWorld，andbeforetheÆ；raofAdam。 Sect。XXII。 PAINTnottheSepulckerofthyself，andstrivenottobeautifythycorruption。BenotanAdvocateforthyVices，norcallformanyHour—GlassestoJustifythyimperfections。 Thinknotthatalwaysgoodwhichthouthinkestthoucanstalwaysmakegood，northatconcealedwhichtheSundothnotbehold。ThatwhichtheSundothnotnowseewillbevisiblewhentheSunisout，andtheStarsarefallenfromHeaven。MeanwhilethereisnodarknessuntoConscience，whichcanseewithoutLight，andinthedeepestobscuritygiveaclearDraughtofthings，whichtheCloudofdissimulationhathconceal’dfromalleyes。 ThereisanaturalstandingCourtwithinus，examining，acquitting，andcondemningattheTribunalofourselves，whereininiquitieshavetheirnaturalTheta’s，andnonocentisabsolvedbytheverdictofhimself。Andthereforealthoughourtransgressionsshallbetryedatthelastbar，theprocessneednotbelong：fortheJudgeofallknowethall，andeveryManwillnakedlyknowhimself。AndwhensofewareliketopleadnotGuilty，theAssizemustsoonhaveanend。 Sect。XXIII。 COMPLYwithsomehumors，bearwithothers，butservenone。Civilcomplacencyconsistswithdecenthonesty： FlatteryisaJuggler，andnoKinuntoSincerity。Butwhilethoumaintainesttheplainpath，andscornesttoflatterothers，fallnotintoselfAdulation，andbecomenotthineownParasite。Bedeafuntothyself，&；benotbetrayedathome。Self—credulity，pride，andlevityleaduntoself—Idolatry。 ThereisnoDamocleslikeuntoselfopinion，noranySirentoourownfawningConceptions。Tomagnifyourminorthings，orhugourselvesinourapparitions； toaffordacredulousEaruntotheclawingsuggestionsoffancy；topassotherdaysinpaintedmistakesofourselves；andthoughwebeholdourownblood，tothinkourselvestheSonsofJupiter*；areblandishmentsofselflove，worsethanoutwarddelusion。BythisImpostureWiseMensometimesareMistakenintheirElevation，andlookabovethemselves。AndFools，whichareAntipodesuntotheWise，conceivethemselvestobebuttheirPerioeci，andinthesameparallelwiththem。*AsAlexandertheGreatdid。*AsAlexandertheGreatdid。 Sect。XXIV。 BEnotaHerculesfurensabroad，andaPoltronwithinthyself。TochaseotherEnemiesoutoftheField，&；beledcaptivebyourVices；tobeatdownourFoes，andfalldowntootherConcupiscences；areSolecismsinMoralSchools，andnoLaurelattendsthem。TowellmanageourAffections，andwildHorsesofPlato，arethehighestCircenses；andthenoblestDigladiationisintheTheaterofourselves：forthereinourinwardAntagonists，notonlylikecommonGladiators，withordinaryWeaponsanddownrightBlowsmakeatus，butalsolikeRetiaryandLaquearyCombatants，withNets，Frauds，andEntanglementsfalluponus。WeaponsforsuchcombatsarenottobeforgedatLipara： Vulcan’sArtdothnothinginthisinternalMilitia：whereinnottheArmourofAchilles，buttheArmatureofSt。Paul，givestheGloriousday，andTriumphsnotLeadingupintoCapitols，butupintothehighestHeavens。 Andthereforewhilesomanythinkittheonlyvalourtocommand&；masterothers，studythoutheDominionofthyself，&；quietthineownCommotions。 LetRightReasonbethyLycurgus，andliftupthyhanduntotheLawofit；movebytheIntelligencesofthesuperiourFaculties，notbytheRaptofPassion，normerelybythatofTemperandConstitution。TheywhoaremerelycarriedonbytheWheelofsuchInclinations，withouttheHandandGuidanceofSovereignReason，arebuttheAutomatouspartofmankind，ratherlivedthanliving，oratleastunderlivingthemselves。 Sect。XXV。 LETnotFortune，whichhathnonameinScripture，haveanyinthyDivinity。LetProvidence，notChance，havethehonourofthyacknowledgments，andbethyOedipusinContingences。 MarkwellthePaths&；windingWaysthereof；butbenottoowiseintheConstruction，orsuddenintheApplication。TheHandofProvidencewritesoftenbyAbbreviatures，HieroglyphicksorshortCharacters，which，liketheLaconismontheWall，arenottobemadeoutbutbyaHintorKeyfromthatSpiritwhichinditedthem。Leavefutureoccurrencestotheiruncertainties，thinkthatwhichispresentthyown；Andsince’tiseasiertoforetellanEclipse，thanafoulDayatsomedistance，LookforlittleRegularbelow。Attendwithpatiencetheuncertaintyofthings，andwhatliethyetunexertedintheChaosofFuturity。TheuncertaintyandignoranceofThingstocomemakestheWorldnewuntousbyunexpectedEmergences，wherebywepassnotourdaysinthetriteroadofaffairsaffordingnoNovity；forthenovellizingSpiritofManlivesbyvariety，andthenewFacesofThings。 Sect。XXVI。 THOUGHacontentedMindenlargeththedimensionoflittlethings，&；untosome’tisWealthenoughnottobePoor，&；othersarewellcontent，iftheybebutRichenoughtobeHonest，&；togiveeveryManhisdue：yetfallnotintothatobsoleteAffectationofBraverytothrowawaythyMoney，andtorejectallHonours，orHonourablestationsinthiscourtlyandsplendidWorld。OldGenerosityissuperannuated，andsuchcontemptoftheWorldoutofdate。NoManisnowliketorefusethefavourofgreatones，orbecontenttosayuntoPrinces，standoutofmySun。AndifanytherebeofsuchantiquatedResolutions，theyarenotliketobetemptedoutofthembygreatones；&；’tisfairiftheyescapethenameofHypocondriacksfromtheGeniusoflattertimes，untowhomcontemptoftheWorldisthemostcontemptibleopinion，andtobeable，likeBias，tocarryalltheyhaveaboutthemweretobetheeighthWise—man。However，theoldtetrickPkilosopherslook’dalwayswithIndignationuponsuchaFaceofThings，andobservingtheunnaturalcurrentofRiches，Power，andHonourintheWorld，andwithalltheimperfection&；demeritofpersonsoftenadvanceduntothem，weretempteduntoangryOpinions，thatAffairswereorderedmorebyStarsthanReason，&；thatthingswentonratherbyLottery，thanElection。 Sect。XXVII。 IFthyVesselbebutsmallintheOceanofthisWorld，ifMeannessofPossessionsbethyallotmentuponEarth，forgetnotthoseVirtueswhichthegreatdisposerofallbidstheetoentertainfromthyQuality&；Condition，thatis，Submission，Humility，Contentofmind，andIndustry。ContentmaydwellinallStations。Tobelow，butabovecontempt，maybehighenoughtobeHappy。ButmanyoflowDegreemaybehigherthancomputed，andsomeCubitsabovethecommonCommensuration； forinallStatesVirtuegivesQualifications，andAllowances，whichmakeoutdefects。RoughDiamondsaresometimesmistakenforPebbles，andMeannessmaybeRichinAccomplishments，whichRichesinvaindesire。IfourmeritsbeaboveourStations，ifourintrinsecalValuebegreaterthanwhatwegofor，orourValuethanourValuation，andifwestandhigherinGod’s，thanintheCensor’sBook；itmaymakesomeequitablebalanceintheinequalitiesofthisWorld，andtheremaybenosuchvastChasmorGulphbetweendisparitiesascommonMeasuresdetermine。TheDivineEyelooksuponhighandlowdiferentlyfromthatofMan。TheywhoseemtostanduponOlympus，andhighmounteduntooureyes，maybebutintheValleys，andlowGrounduntohis；forhelooksuponthoseashighestwhonearestapproachhisDivinity，anduponthoseaslowest，whoarefarthestfromit。